Closure construction



Dec. 21, 1965 c. ZELLWEGER GLOSURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 27, 1963 nited States Patent Fice assigner to La Nationale SA., a corporation of Switzerland Filed Dec. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 333,877 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Jan. 4, 1963,

/63 9 Claims. (Cl. 22o- 27) This invention relates to closure members of the type wherein a plug of resilient material is opened by perforation with a hollow needle and is closed by its own resilience upon withdrawal of the needle.

Receptacles utilizing such closure members nd wide commercial use due to their convenience and expendability whereby the receptacle may be disposed of after its contents have been emptied. Because of this, cost has become a prime consideration and since these receptacles are used in large quantities, even very small reductions in the cost of manufacture per unit may be of considerable overall significance.

In general, receptacles of the type to which the improvements of the present invention are applied, have at one end a tubular spout or nozzle which houses near its outer tip a plug of resilient material. In order properly to position the plug within the spout or nozzle a special machine having specially designed guide means must be provided. The plug is generally retained in place by a metal washer which is introduced into and crimped inside the spout or nozzle.

One of the advantages of the present invention lies in the fact that the cost of manufacture of this general type of closure member is considerably reduced. This is obtained, according to the present invention by providing a tubular part, such as a spout or nozzle, one end of which is closed by a plug of flexible, resilient material, said plug being adapted for perforation by a hollow needle or other perforation element and further adapted to se-al the perforation itself by its own resilience after withdrawal of the element. The outer tip of the tubular part is formed with a shoulder which extends inwardly of the part and acts as a stop to retain the resilient plug. The inner diameter of the tubular part is large enough to permit introduction of the plug through that end thereof which is remote from the end formed with the retaining shoulder.

There has been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may 'be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Specific embodiments of the invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specication, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially broken away, of a receptacle utilizing a closure member of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section View of the end of the receptacle of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a view of the tip of the spout portion of FIG. 2 showing one modification.

Y'of funnel.

'amaze Patented Dec. 2l, 1965 FIG. 4 is a section view similar to FIG. 2 showing another modification.

FIG. 5 is Ia View similar to FIG. 3, showing a still further modication.

The receptacle shown in FIG. 1 comprises a spun cylindrical tubular body 1 having a bottom end 2 formed in one piece therewith. The other or open end of the body 1 is closed by a metal stamping` 3, the shape of which is best illustrated in FIG. 2. The stamping 3 has a central tubular part 4 whose outer tip is bent over to form an annular shoulder 5 adapted to retain a plug 6 of resilient material. The tubular part 4 is rigidly connected to a wall portion 7 having a bent over edge 8. This bent over edge is crimped over a gasket and a rolled edge 9 at the open end of the cylindrical body 1 (FIG. l) to form a pressure tight seal therewith.

The tubular part 4 is formed with a larger inside diameter portion 21 near the bottom thereof which connects through a generally frusto-conical surface 22 to a smaller diameter portion 20 which extends in a slight taper to the outer tip of the part. This arrangement is advant-ageous for manufacture since it enables the plug 6 to be tted accurately and easily simply by pushing it in through the bottom end of the tubular part 4 which acts as a kind The machine which lits the plug therefore does not have to be provided with a guide element for maintaining proper orientation and alignment. After the plug has been fitted, la ring or annular part 10 is forced inside the tubular part 4 behind the plug and prevents excessive axial displacement of the latter.

As shown in FIG. 2, an axial clearance is provided between the ring or annular part 10 and the plug 6. The plug has a normal unstressed outer diameter slightly larger than the smaller inside diameter at the tip portion of part 4, so that after the plug has been introduced into the latter it undergoes radial compression. This provides sealingtightness between the plug and inside wall of the tubular part, and further it sets up residual stresses within the plug which effect automatic sealing of apertures which are formed in the plug by insertion of a hollow needle or other perforation element. To enable the plug to undergo the deformation without being subjected to excessive stresses when the hollow needle passes through it, there is provided a free space 30 between the plug 6 and the ring 10. This space receives the material of the plug which is displaced by the formation of the aperture through it by the needle or other perforation element.

FIG. 3 shows a variant of the arrangement at the tip of the tubular part 4 wherein the plug 6 is pressed axially over its periphery by an annular part 11 forced into the tubular part 4. In this case the normal unstressed outer diameter of the plug is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the end of the tubular part 4 so that the crushing of the plug edge due to the axial pressure exerted by the ring 11 develops a radial displacement of material in the plug and brings its periphery into contact with the inside wall of the tubular part 4 so as to provide the required Y sealing-tightness.

FIG. 4 shows a modified form of the end part of the receptacle of FIG. l. In this arrangement there is provided for the cylindrical body 1, an end closure formed of a stamping 12 having its central portion adapted to receive a tubular part 13 of molded synthetic resin. The tubular part 13 is formed with a collar 14. A gasket 15 is fitted over the collar and the two are rmly attached in sealing tight relationship to the stamping by the crimping of its central portion over these parts.

The tip of the tubular part 13 has an annular lip 16 facing the inside of the tubular bore and forming a shoulder for a plug 17 of flexible resilient material. The plug is introduced intothe part 13 through its Vbottom opening. This bottom opening, as in previous embodiments,

has a larger-diameter portion, designated at 18, which' acts in the nature of a funnel to facilitate the introduction of the plug 17. The plug is simply placed in the larger diameter portion 18, and then is pushed into the tubular bore of the part 13 by a punch, with resultant radial compression of the plug due to a slight taper or reduction in the inside diameter of the part 13. This operation can be carried out without any guide means for pre-compression of the plug before its-introduction.

After introduction, the plug 17 is retained by a tube 19 forced inside the tubular part 13. This tube is inserted to a point which leaves a given space 32 between the lip 16 and the end of the tube 19. This space is greater than the thickness of the plug 17 so as to provide a sufficient free volume to receive the material of the plug displaced on introduction of the perforation element.

In this latter embodiment, the plug introduction operation can be simplified further by introducing the plug into the tubular part 13 at the same time as the tube 19 is inserted and the two can be forced into place in a single operation.

FIG. shows a still further modification of the arrangement at the tip of the tubular part 4. In this case the tubular part is formed of a metal stamping as described previously with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and has its tip folded over to form a shoulder 5 which retains the plug 6. This stamping is further provided with an annular constriction 23y at a distance from the tip, this constriction forming an internal retaining shoulder for the plug 6. Since this shoulder has a rounded shape, it is possible to introduce the plug 6 through the rear aperture of the tubular part 4 and push it up past this shoulder to fit it in the position shown in FIG. 5. The plug is thus situated between two shoulders and a retaining part does not have to be introduced into the tubular part 4.

Having thus described my invention with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as defined by the claims appended thereto.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A receptacle comprising:

(a) a tubular part;

(b) a plug of exible and resilient material closing one end of said tubular part, said plug being adapted for perforation by a perforation element and further adapted to seal the perforation by its resilience after withdrawal of such element, the outer tip of said tubular part having an integral shoulder serving as a stop for retention of said plug inside the tubular part, said tubular part further having an inner diameter such as to permit introduction of said plug through that end of the tubular part which is remote from the outer tip having the said shoulder; and

(c) an annular shaped member positioned within the tubular part for retaining said plug in place, said member being positioned behind said plug at a position providing clearance between itself and said plug.

2. A receptacle comprising:

(a) a body portion having an open end;

(b) a tubular part sealingly connected at one of its ends to the open end of said body and having a first opening at its one end of predetermined size and a shoulder at its opposite end defining a second opening of smaller size;

(c) an expandable plug of flexible and resilient material disposed within said tubular part in sealing relationship therewith and closing said second opening with said shoulder preventing movement of said plug through said second opening, said plug being adapted for perforation by a perforation element and further adapted to seal the perforation by its resilience after withdrawal of such element, said plug having a normal unrestrained size receivable through said first opening of said tubular part; and

(d) retaining means for preventing withdrawal of said plug through said first opening.

3. A receptacle comprising:

(a) a tubular part;

(b) an expandable plug of exible and resilient material having a normal unrestrained size receivable through one end of said tubular part and positioned in sealing relationship in said part to close the other end thereof, said plug being adapted for perforation by a perforation element and further adapted to seal the perforation by its resilience after withdrawal of such element;

(c) stop means at the other end of said tubular part on one side of said plug for preventing movement of said plug therethrough;

(d) retaining means positioned within said tubular part on the other side of said plug for preventing withdrawal of said plug through said one end; and

(e) a clearance area disposed immediately adjacent a portion of said plug for permitting expansion thereof when said perforation element is inserted therethrough.

4. A receptacle for holding iiuid under pressure cornprising:

(a) a tubular part having an opening at one end of predetermined size and a smaller opening at the other end defined by a radially inwardly directed shoulder;

(b) a plug of fiexible and resilient material having a normal unrestrained size which is receivable within the opening at said one end and which is greater than the size of said smaller opening, said plug being positioned within said tubular part in scaling relationship therewith with the wall of said tubular member exerting a radial compressive force on said plug, said plug being adapted for perforation by a perforation element and further adapted to seal the perforation by its resilience after withdrawal of such element; and

(c) annular shaped retaining means positioned within said tubular part behind said plug and spaced from said shoulder by a distance greater than the axial dimension of said plug to provide an axial clearance into which said plug may expand upon perforation by said perforation element.

5. A receptacle for holding fluid under pressure cornprising:

(a) a tubular part having an opening at one end of predetermined size and a smaller opening at the tip of the other end defined by a radially inwardly directed shoulder;

(b) a plug of flexible and resilient material having a normal unrestrained size which is receivable within the opening at said one end and which is greater than the size of said smaller opening, said plug being positioned within said tubular part in sealing relationship with said shoulder at a point where the unrestrained size of said plug is smaller than the opposed portion of said tubular part, said plug being adapted for perforation by a perforation element and further adapted to seal the perforation by its resilience after withdrawal of such element; and

(c) an annular shaped member positioned within said tubular part in press fitted, sealed relationship with the inner wall thereof and exerting an axial compressive force about the peripheral region of said plug to hold said plug in sealed relationship with said shoulder.

6. A receptacle as defined in claim 3 wherein the inner surfaces of the tubular part are formed in two sections of different diameter, said sections being connected together by a generally frusto-conical surface.

7. A receptacle as defined in claim 3 wherein said tubular part is a synthetic resin molding and wherein said retaining means is an annular shaped tube press fitted within said molding from the end opposite its outer tip to retain said flexible plug therewithin.

8. A receptacle as deiined in claim 3 wherein said tubular part is of metal and is formed with two annular shoulders situated on each side of said plug, one of said shoulders being formed by the folded-over outer tip of said part to define said stop means while the other shoulder is formed by an annular constriction of said tubular part and located beyond said plug to define said retaining means.

9. A closure member comprising a tubular part having a tapered inner diameter and formed with an inwardly extending annular shoulder at the smaller diameter end of said part, a plug of flexible resilient material adapted to =be opened by the insertion therethrough of a perforation element and to close under radially directed stresses upon withdrawal of such element, said plug having a nor- 20 mal unstressed outer configuration which fits within the larger diameter end of said tubular part and which is retained in one axial direction by said annular shoulder,

said plug further being positioned at and constructed and arranged to undergo radial compression at the smaller diameter end of said tubular part and means retaining said plug in the opposite axial direction at said smaller diameter end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,386 11/1938 Crabbe.

2,567,183 9/1951 Collins 220-27 2,608,972 9/ 1952 Chrigstrom.

2,750,068 6/1956 Platt 220--27 3,079,940 3/1963 Keefe 21S-41 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,197,461 12/1959 France.

References Cited by the Applicant FOREIGN PATENTS 367,395 2/1932 Great Britain.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. A RECEPTACLE COMPRISING: (A) A TUBULAR PART; (B) A PLUG OF FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT MATERIAL CLOSING ONE END OF SAID TUBULAR PART, SAID PLUG BEING ADAPTED FOR PERFORATION BY A PERFORATION ELEMENT AND FURTHER ADAPTED TO SEAL THE PEFORATION BY ITS RESILIENCE AFTER WITHDRAWAL OF SUCH ELEMENT, THE OUTER TIP OF SAID TUBULAR PART HAVING AN INTEGRAL SHOULDER SERVING AS A STOP FOR RETENTION OF SAID PLUG INSIDE THE TUBULAR PART, SAID TUBULAR PART FURTHER HAVING AN INNER DIAMETER SUCH AS TO PERMIT INTRODUCTION OF SAID PLUG THROUGH THAT END OF THE TUBULAR PART WHICH IS REMOTE FROM THE OUTER TIP HAVING THE SAID SHOULDER; AND (C) AN ANNULAR SHAPED MEMBER POSITIONED WITHIN THE TUBULAR PART FOR RETAINING SAID PLUG IN PLACE, SAID MEMBER BEING POSITIONED BEHIND SAID PLUG AT A POSITION PROVIDING CLEARANCE BETWEEN ITSELF AND SAID PLUG. 